The 2019 Cadillac XT4 is the automaker’s first-ever compact luxury SUV, and it has all the earmarks of a winner.

The Cadillac brand stands apart for its brash, all-American take on automotive luxury, offering cars and SUVs that come with relatively affordable pricing and an extroverted design aesthetic. These qualities have helped Cadillac achieve significant success on the sales charts, especially when it comes to SUVs.

In 2017, Cadillac’s Escalade was the best-selling large luxury SUV on the market, with 37,694 units sold. Among midsize luxury SUVs, the Cadillac XT5 ranked second on the sales charts last year, moving 68,312 units.

The one thing that has long been missing from Cadillac’s roster of luxury vehicles is a compact crossover SUV. Casually late to the party, the brand has launched its first-ever entry in this growing segment: the 2019 Cadillac XT4.

The XT4 is sold in Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport trim levels. All are motivated by a turbocharged, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 237 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque, and gears are shifted by a 9-speed automatic transmission. This petite Cadillac crossover is capable of towing up to 3,500 pounds.

With its assertive style and premium content, the XT4 boasts qualities that have helped make Cadillac’s SUVs bona fide hits. Still, while this model shines as a compelling pick, it’s not free of flaws.

Below, we take a look at eight great traits of the 2019 XT4... along with a shortcoming you should keep in mind before making this Cadillac your next compact luxury SUV.

#1: Bold exterior design

The XT4’s design language is confident and extroverted.

(Cadillac)

Some luxury vehicles have a discreet, low-key aesthetic, while others speak a design language that’s bolder and more outgoing. Cadillac’s vehicles definitely fall in the latter of these two camps. Boxy and broad-shouldered, Cadillac’s cars and SUVs look like nothing else on the road.

The XT4 puts a youthful spin on Cadillac’s distinctive design language. An imposing grille shares space on the front fascia with pronged headlights, overlooked by a bulging, muscular hood. The crossover’s profile showcases a squared-off nose and a chic, rising beltline.

Overall, I expect that the XT4’s singular, confident aesthetic will help Cadillac shore up support with younger car buyers.

#2: Excellent rear-seat legroom

In the XT4, rear-seat passengers enjoy 39.5 inches of legroom.

(Cadillac)

Like a teenager on a growth spurt, cars and SUVs just keep getting bigger and bigger with each passing year. This is good news if you like roomy cabins with lots of rear-seat legroom. Many of today’s crop of compact crossovers are spacious enough to serve as comfortable family transportation.

The XT4 provides second-row passengers with lots of room to stretch their legs. Its 39.5 inches of rear-seat legroom puts this Cadillac ahead of many of its rivals. For example, the 2018 Audi Q5 provides less room for rear passengers, with 37.8 inches allotted for their stems. And the 2019 BMW X3 provides just 36.4 inches of legroom in its second row.

#3: Impressive fuel economy

With mileage of up to 24/30 mpg city/highway, the 2019 Cadillac XT4 delivers strong fuel economy.

(Cadillac)

Luxury vehicles offer brand cachet and premium styling, but they are among the most expensive models to own and maintain. According to Consumer Reports, seven of the 10 car brands with the highest ownership and maintenance costs are luxury marques.

One way in which you can lower overall ownership costs for your luxury vehicle is by choosing a model that offers strong fuel economy, and the 2019 XT4 delivers in this area. According to the EPA, Cadillac’s smallest crossover achieves mileage of up to 24/30 mpg city/highway. This puts it ahead of rivals like the 2018 Audi Q5 (23/27 mpg) and 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class (up to 22/27 mpg).

#4: Relatively affordable pricing

Cadillac’s XT4 is one of the most affordable picks in its segment.

(Cadillac)

Competitive pricing can help a product garner attention in a crowded marketplace, and this is a strategy that has worked well for Cadillac over the years. In many of the categories in which they compete, Cadillac vehicles are priced a few thousand dollars lower than rival models.

The XT4 benefits from this pricing approach. Base models start at $34,795, and the top trim level costs only $39,295. This makes the XT4 significantly more affordable than most of its peers. For example, Audi’s 2018 Q5 starts at $41,500, and its top trim is priced at $44,100. Likewise, the 2019 BMW X3 has a base price of $41,000, with the top trim costing $54,650.

#5: Upscale range of tech, comfort, and convenience features

Massaging front seats are among the XT4’s range of premium options.

(Cadillac)

Luxury vehicles separate themselves from their more modestly priced cohorts by offering the most premium features available. For example, many offer a massaging function for the front seats. These talented seats can soothe your shoulders after long day, and they create a spa-like experience for front-row passengers.

Massaging front seats are optional in the XT4. The crossover’s list of available tech, comfort, and convenience features also includes a gesture-controlled liftgate, Wi-Fi connectivity, power-folding side mirrors, a navigation system, and a Bose stereo.

Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone projection technology can help you seamlessly connect your device with your vehicle. This feature is standard in the 2019 XT4.

#6: Up-to-date selection of driver-assist amenities

Available driver-assist features like forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking can help make the XT4 safer during daily commutes.

(Cadillac)

Sometimes life unfolds so quickly, it’s impossible to keep up. If you’re behind the wheel during one of these moments, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking can help. If this system’s sensors detect an impending collision, the driver is issued a warning. If the driver fails to respond in time, this technology will automatically brake the vehicle to try and prevent an accident.

Forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking is one of the XT4’s modern range of driver-assist features. The lineup also includes adaptive cruise control, rear automatic emergency braking, a blind-spot warning system, and a rear cross-traffic alert system.

The XT4 can also be equipped with a rearview camera mirror. This feature provides drivers with a more expansive, less obstructed rearward view than a traditional rearview mirror. It streams video footage directly to the rearview mirror, using cameras positioned to capture images of rear-facing traffic.

#7: Assertive cabin design

The XT4’s interior design is sleek, modern, and forceful.

(Cadillac)

You can recognize many luxury cars by their cabins. Audis come with meticulously crafted interiors that use the finest woods and leathers. Mercedes-Benz cabins have a plush, baroque look that exudes a uniquely Germanic brand of elegance.

The XT4’s interior boasts a design that’s just as modern and confident as that of its sheet metal. The cabin is anchored by a chunky dash that’s embellished with buttons angled to mimic the front fascia’s assertive lines. The overall look of the cabin is clean and stylish.

Other luxury crossovers offer cabins that are more overtly luxurious. But the XT4 will appeal to shoppers who appreciate an interior design that’s assertive and contemporary.

#8: Generous cargo capacity behind the rear seats

With the rear seats in place, the 2019 Cadillac XT4 provides 22.5 cu.-ft. of cargo space.

(Cadillac)

According to a Bridgestone survey, 89% of Americans take summer road trips, and they’re willing to drive 660 miles on average. If you’re traveling with second-row passengers while using your vehicle for a long journey such as this, it’s important to make sure you have enough cargo space behind the rear seats. This ensures that you and your passengers have enough room to accommodate the luggage that’s essential on long trips.

Cadillac’s XT4 offers a generous amount of cargo space behind its second row. With the rear seats in place, the XT4 provides 22.5 cu.-ft. of cargo capacity.

This gives the XT4 more cargo space behind its rear seats than rivals like the Porsche Macan, which provides a mere 17.7 cu.-ft. behind its second row.

Note that when its rear seats are folded, the XT4 offers less cargo space than many rivals, including the Macan. However, if you plan on accommodating cargo with both rows in use, the XT4 is a solid bet.

A fatal flaw

The XT4 offers a nice selection of optional driver-assist amenities. However, it falls short in providing a solid range of standard drive-assist equipment. All models come with a reversing camera and rear parking sensors, but useful features such as adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking are optional.

Making matters worse, many key driver-assist features aren’t available on base models, forcing buyers who want this equipment to step up to costlier trim levels. This can quickly add thousands of dollars to the crossover’s base price.

Some rivals offer an extensive range of standard driver-assist features. For example, all 2019 Lexus NX crossovers are equipped with adaptive cruise control, a lane-keeping assist system, a forward collision warning system with automatic emergency braking, and automatic high-beam headlights.

The American

Sensibly priced and dressed to impress, the 2019 Cadillac XT4 has what it takes to win a wide swath of fans.

(Cadillac)

Its flamboyant styling and upscale feature content should help the XT4 make waves in the current pool of small luxury SUVs. And, thanks to its affordable pricing and impressive fuel economy, this Cadillac makes a strong case for being a sensible choice.

The XT4 delivers winning form and function, served with a bravado that’s uniquely American.